Burundi blocking aid to coronavirus sites

Authorities in Burundi are blocking aid designed for those working in coronavirus quarantine sites across the country, according to the charity Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Lewis Mudge, HRW’s Central Africa Director, said that “Burundi’s usual denial and deflection approach to crisis management” was serious cause for concern.

Mudge underlined the importance of transparency, saying the government must work with international aid organisations who are there to help, not hinder, the government.

He said the government needs to give full, unfettered access to aid and humanitarian groups in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

According to HRW, the government only showed one quarantine site to inspectors from the World Health Organisation, yet several others that are currently holding those who have recently entered the country are in unacceptable states.

Burundi confirmed its first two positive cases of the virus on Thursday, before adding a third case just four hours later.

That news followed an announcement, just days prior, from the president, Pierre Nkurunziza, who said Burundi had been spared the virus because “it is a country that has put God first”.

Photo: Zineb Boujrada/UNICEF